Should I treat my gummy smile before or after braces?

Doctor's Answers 2

Hi

To answer your question, first we will need to determine what is the cause of your gummy smile.

Gummy smile can be caused by:

1) Abnormal eruption of upper teeth

2) Upper jaw grows excessively in a downward manner

3) The muscle that is controlling the movement of your upper lip is hyperactive

4) Short upper lip

5) Excessive gum (Short height of tooth)

Depending on the cause of the gummy smile, the treatment will be different. Some of these gumminess can be reduced through braces while others will require procedures such as gum recontouring, jaw surgery or botox, done after or in conjunction with the braces

I would recommend that you arrange for a consultation with an orthodontist to assess your condition so that a suitable treatment plan can be determined.

Dr Enrica Sham

Thanks for the D2D. It is wise to consult both an Orthodontist and a Periodontist before treatment is started so both specialists are in agreement with the treatment plan.

Usually, braces (Orthodontic treatment) is done first as it is sometimes possible to intrude the teeth with braces and reduce the height of gum display.

Also, if braces are done first, sometimes we need to remove less bone and gums during gummy smile surgery. Also, the gums levels will move during braces so it would be much better to level off the gums when the teeth have stopped shifting and are in their final position.

So in general, it is better to do braces first before gum surgery! Although there are exceptions to the rule.

Similar Questions

Do braces change your facial profile?

You have asked a very interesting question and I am afraid the answer is yes and no! I will try to explain it as best I can. Braces CAN change profiles: Braces can change profiles only when the orthodontists and the patient plan to get it changed from the START of the treatment. A good example is when patients complain that when taking photographs, they notice that their side profile is sticking out and they have a very full smile (most patients use the terms, I look like a horse!) In this case, braces can help to retract the teeth to allow the patient to have a softer, gentler profile.

Photo of Dr Sylvia Tan

Answered By

Dr Sylvia Tan

Orthodontist

Should I do my dental crown or braces first?

It is better to get your braces done first before your crown. This is because the tooth and gum position will move and it may affect the final crown work. The crown surface may also be damaged during braces work (risk is small) which means that you may need a new crown after braces. If you want to be treated with subsidy you will need a polyclinic referral letter. However please note that there are no subsidies for any orthodontic treatment. You can be seen by the postgraduate students at NUS for a slightly reduced price for braces if you wanted to.

Photo of Dr Sylvia Tan

Answered By

Dr Sylvia Tan

Orthodontist

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